The defeated "old regime" candidate in Egypt's presidential
elections left the country on Tuesday, shortly after law suits were filed
claiming he had been involved in corruption.

Ahmed Shafiq, a retired air force general and the last prime minister of ex-President Hosni Mubarak, became the second close confidant of the former dictator to leave for Abu Dhabi, after Omar Suleiman, his intelligence chief.

Mr Shafiq at the weekend had been confident that he was about to be declared Egypt's next leader. In the event, a narrow but clear victory was awarded to Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the next day the law suit was passed to an investigating judge by prosecutors.

His campaign said he was going for a short visit and on to Mecca for a pilgrimage. But his departure, along with that of Mr Suleiman, has led to speculation that old regime figures are fearing either retribution or prosecution for their performance in office under Mr Mubarak.

With a poll figure ending up at more than 48 per cent, Mr Shafiq won more support than any analyst had predicted in the election. Many secular and Christian Egyptians hoped he would be a buffer against the Brotherhood, and others accepted his promises that he would be able to stem the rise in crime since last year's revolution.

He also had a reputation for honesty and efficiency during his years as Egypt's aviation minister, but that was recently tarnished by allegations over the cost of building Cairo's new airport terminal, which he oversaw.

The state news agency confirmed he had left for Abu Dhabi, while airport officials told news agencies he was accompanied by his daughters and grandchildren. Mr Suleiman, who was the main link between Egypt's security establishment and both the United States and Israel during Mr Mubarak's reign, is also believed to have taken his family with him to the United Arab Emirates.

How to deal with cases arising from Mr Mubarak's era is one issue that remains to be resolved for the new president. Mr Mubarak and his sons face more corruption charges.

Mr Morsi was still locked with advisers choosing his cabinet and prime minister. He must also decide who to make his vice-presidents, though he has already said one would be a woman and one a Christian.

Those decisions will probably bring him into less conflict with the military, who retain much of the power in Egypt, than security issues. The country's administrative court yesterday suspended a key ruling by the military giving the army the right to arrest civilians, including protesters.

The judges said the ruling was an attempt to reintroduce martial law, which expired earlier this month, by the back door.